Wire-tension device.



M. R. MOORE.

WIRE TENSION DEVlC. APPLICATION man MAR. 2,'1916.

1,191,450. Patented .my 18, 191.

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MARSIIAL R. MOORE, OF IVIONMOUTI-I, ILLINOIS.

WIRE-TENSION DEVICE.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, MARSHAL R. Moonn, citizenof the United States, residing at Monmouth, inthe county of IVarren andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements infire-Tension Devices, of which the following isa specification.

vMy invention consists in a new and useful improvement in wire tensiondevices, more especially that form of device used for laying. clieck-rowwires for corn planters.

My invention furnishes a simple and compact device which may be attachedto the end of the wire when it is to'be put in position.

in the field for use with the corn planter. In operation, one device isused at each end of the wire, thus making it possible to properly adjustthe wire at either end of the field, so that the entire operation may beperformed by one operator as he travels from side to side of the fieldin the process of planting.

My invention consists in the details of construction hereinafter pointedout.

In the drawings: Figure One is a side elevation, partly in section, of aportion of a field, showing the device in use. Fig. Two is a detail sideelevation of the device. Fig. Three is `a top view, partly in section,of a portion of the device, on the line 3 3 of Fig. Two. Fig.-Four is adiagrammatic view of a portion of a field, showing thedevice inoperation. v

In the drawings, the numeral 1V indicates a spring tension indicator, ofany ordinary type, provided at its ends with the rings 2, 2. To the ring2 is suitably attached the pulley-block 3 connected with the pulleyblock3 by a cable 4. The pulley-block 3 is provided with a rope-lock 5, ofany ordinary type, and also with the ring 6. The plate 7 is provided atone end with the cir cular hole 8, through which passes the ring 2, thuspermanently attaching the plate 7 to the spring tension indicator 1. Theplate 7 is further provided at its center with the circular hole 9 andat its end opposite to the hole 8 with the curved portion 10, which hasa notch 11. Disposed through the ring 6, is the anchor rod 12, having alower vertical portion 12a, a horizontal portion 12b above the ring 6,from which extends the vertical portion 12, from which extends thehorizontal portion 12d. Below the ring 6, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. July 13, 1916.

Application filed March 2i, 19,16. Serial No. 81,685.

i portion 12 is pro-vided at its lower end with a laterally extendingportion -12e which is provided `with a point. Disposed through the holeQin the plate 7 is the rod 13 which is similar in construction to therod 12. The curved portion 10 is adapted to engage a knot upon thecheck-row wire 14, in the notch 11.

Operation: The operation of this device is clearly indicated in Fig.One. Y The operator, desiring to stretch the check-row wire 14 inposition for planting a given row, places the rod 13 of the device B inthe ground, at the beginning of the proposed row, 'forces in the rod 13until the portion 13b is near the ground. Thisv operation can beaccomplished by grasping the port-ion 13d by the hand, applying pressurethereto and applying footpressure'to the portion 13b. With the rod 13 inthis position, the plate 7 of the device B will be substantially uponthe levely of the ground. The knot upon the check-row wire `l4 is hookedin the notch 11 of the curved portion 10 of the plate 7. The operatorthen carries the check-row wire 14 across the iield laying it above theproposed row. Slightly beyond this end of the row and in line with it heplaces the anchor rod 12 of the device A, in the same manner as hepreviously placed the rod 13 of the device B. The curved portion 10 ofthe plate 7 of the device A is now fastened to one of the knots upon thecheck-row wire 14. The device A is now in position for applying tensionto the check-row wire 14. The lock being loosened, the cable 4 and thepulley-blocks 3, 3 are operated, thus applying tension to the springtension indicator 1, and from it through the plate 7 to the check-rowwire 14. When this tension reaches the desired point to adjust thecheck-row wire 14 as desired, indicated by the spring tension indicator1, the rope-lock 5 is operated, thus holding the various parts secure.The rod 13 of the device A is then pressed into the ground in the samemanner as the two rods referred to above. This action results in firmlyfixing both ends of the checkrow wire 14, by means of the rods 13, 13respectively, the check row wire 14 having the degree of tensionindicated by the spring tension indicator. -At this point, the rope-lock5 may be loosened, the cable 4 slackened to relieve the pressure uponthe spring tension indicator 1, and the rod 12 of the device A removedfrom the ground, or the parts may be left in positions indicated, toafford more effective anchoring means for the check-row wire 14.

The use of this device by a single operator in planting a field may becieariy understood in Fig. Four. rIhe illustration indicates theoperation, at the completion of the planting of row III, row IV havingbeen marked for planting. At the completion of the planting of row II,the operator fixed rod 13 of device A, rod 12 of device B, secured theproper tension of the check-row wire 14, by means of the device B,placed the rod 13 of the device B, fixed the checkrow wire 14 upon thecorn-planter and planted row III, at the same time marking row IV forplanting. It will be here observed, that the check-row wire 14, extendsat an angle to the planting rows one end of the Wire being in line withone row, the other end of the wire being in line with the next row. Whenrow III has been planted, the operator removes rod 13 of device A whichwas in line with row II, moves device A to row IV, places rod 12 ofdevice A in oosition obtains the 3ro er tensionb means of device A uponthe check-row wire 14, whose other end is stili fixed by rod 13 ofdevice B, fixes rod 13 of device A, and proceeds to plant row IV, asbefore.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

The combination in a wire tension device of an anchor rod provided withmeans for applying foot pressure and hand pressure thereto for fixing itin the ground and removing it therefrom; tension mechanism attached tothe rod; locking means for retaining the tension secured; means, formeasuring the degree of tension secured, attached to the tensionmechanism; a plate attached to the measuring means and provided with acurved portion having a notch adapted to be used for attachment to awire, and also provided with an orifice; and an anchor rod, slidablymounted in said orifice and provided with means for applying footpressure and hand pressure thereto for fixing it in the ground andremoving it therefrom, for anchoring the plate independently from therest of the device when the desired degree of tension has been secured,whereby the strain is removed from the rest of the device.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

MARSHAL R. MOORE.

Witnesses FRANK M. HALLAM, R. M. FERGUSON.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

